Animal Sciences Commons^™

A Fresh Look At The Taxonomy Of Midcontinental Sandhill Cranes, Douglas H. Johnson, Jane E. Autin, Jill A. Shaffer

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The midcontinental population of sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) includes about 500,000 birds and provides valuable recreational crane-watching and hunting opportunities in Canada and the United States. It comprises three subspecies, one of which (G. c. rowani) was of uncertain taxonomic status and another of which (G. c. tabida) merited protection from excessive harvest due to its small population size. We obtained measurements of cranes used by Johnson and Stewart (1973) and additional crane specimens to 1) evaluate the subspecies designation of midcontinental sandhill cranes and 2) to seek improved methods for classifying cranes from …

Breeding Biology Of Re-Introduced Non-Migratory Whooping Cranes In Florida, Martin J. Folk, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Stephen T. Schwikert, James A. Schmidt, Kathleen A. Sullivan, Thomas J. Miller, Stephen B. Baynes, Jeannette M. Parker

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

In the face of record-setting drought, the re-introduced flock of non-migratory whooping cranes in Florida has shown slow but steady progress toward achieving the first natural recruitment to the flock. Fourteen nests were initiated between 1999 and 2002. Two clutches have hatched a total of 4 chicks and 1 chick was raised to fledging. Captive-raised, soft-released whooping cranes have shown that they are capable of forming pair bonds, defending territories, building nests, laying fertile eggs, and hatching and rearing young. The key to the success of the project will be to have enough pairs producing enough young to offset annual …

Resolutions Passed By The North American Crane Working Group

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

FRESHWATER INFLOWS FOR CONSERVATION OF BLUE CRABS AND WHOOPING CRANES Research has shown that whooping cranes require abundant blue crab populations on which to forage to meet their energy needs. The NACWG urges the Texas Council of Environmental Quality to grant a water right to the San Marcos River Foundation at the maximum level requested (1.15 million acre-feet) to provide freshwater inflows for conservation purposes as identified in a study conducted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. These inflows would increase blue crab populations, keep the bays and marshes productive in whooping crane critical habitat at Aransas, and help …

Testing A West Nile Virus Vaccine In Sandhill Cranes (Grus Canadensis), Glenn H. Olsen, Kimberli Miller, Douglas Docherty, Louis Sileo

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Eight sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) were vaccinated with a commercial equine West Nile virus vaccine (Fort Dodge Animal Health, Fort Dodge, Iowa, USA) at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Maryland, USA. Three doses of the vaccine were given, the first dose (day 0) was followed by a second 21 days later and the third dose 7 days after the second day 28 after the first dose). All doses were 0.50 ml. In addition, 5 sandhill cranes were given injections of similar amounts of sterile water on the same schedule. Blood for complete blood counts, serum chemistries, …

Migration Routes, Staging Areas, And Wintering Grounds Of Sandhill Cranes That Breed In Siberia, Gary L. Krapu, David A. Brandt

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We determined breeding sites, migration routes, spring and fall staging areas, and wintering grounds for sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) from the midcontinent population that nest in Siberia. Our results are from 30 PTT-marked individuals captured and marked along the Platte and North Platte Rivers in Nebraska. Findings indicate the species breeds across a vast area of northeastern Siberia extending at least 1500 km west from near the Bering Strait to the Kolymskaya Plains with most breeding confined to within 75 km of the coast. We describe when PTT-tagged cranes arrived at breeding sites in Siberia, duration of stay, …

Response Of Florida Sandhill Cranes To Nest Inspection, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Paul S. Kubilis, Stephen T. Schwikert

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We observed the response of nesting Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pratensis) to 27 instances of nest inspection. The disturbed bird flew from the area 81% and walked 19% of the time. The median distance moved was 330 meters (range 28 to 480 meters). The median length of time the nest was left unattended following inspection was 50 min (range: 10 to 166 min). The median length of time that observers stayed at the nest was 16 min (range: 5 to 48 min). Ten of the nests inspected (40%) eventually failed to produce young. Statistical analysis was focused …

Patterns Of Food Use Of Wintering Whooping Cranes On The Texas Coast, Craig M. Westwood, Felipe Chavez-Ramirez

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Whooping Crane (Grus americana) fecal samples were collected from Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR) during winter and fall of 1993-94 (Winter-1; n = 59), and Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) during winter and fall of 1993-94 (n = 102) and 1994-95 (Winter-2; n = 257) to study crane diets and compare patterns of food use in these areas. Food items varied between areas, across months, and between years in both frequency and percent volume. Blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), wolfberry fruit (Lycium carolinianum), horn snail (Cerithidea pliculasa), razor clam (Tagellus plebius), …

Fecal Corticoid Monitoring In Whooping Cranes Trained To Follow Ultralight Aircraft, Barry K. Hartup, Nancy M. Czekala, Glenn H. Olsen, Julia A. Langenberg

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The use of fecal corticoid assays to measure stress in North American cranes has been limited to laboratory validation and a single field project involving reintroduced sandhill cranes (Ludders et al., 1998, 2001; Hartup et al., 2004). In 2001, we documented trends in corticoid concentrations among a cohort of ten costume-reared whooping cranes subjected to ultralight aircraft training and migration. All samples were analyzed by a validated corticosterone 125I radioimmunoassay for determination of corticoid levels. Fecal corticoid concentrations in chicks exhibited a logarithmic decline over the first 14 days after hatching (r = 0.86, p < 0.001). Fecal corticoid concentrations then stabilized at baseline levels (median 68 ng/g, range 17–186 ng/g, n = 116) during the subsequent six weeks of costume-rearing and aircraft habituation in captivity. Fecal corticoid concentrations of eight cranes increased 8-34 fold during shipment in crates to Wisconsin for field training. Increases in fecal corticoid concentrations were positively correlated with age (r = 0.81, p = 0.01), but not body weight (r = 0.44, p = 0.28) at the time of shipping. Fecal corticoid concentrations returned to baseline levels within seven days, and were sustained throughout the remainder of the training period (median 77 ng/g, range 22– 292 ng/g, n=190). Elevations in fecal corticoid concentrations were observed one (p = 0.035) and four days (p = 0.003) following physical examination and placement of leg bands compared to three days prior to the procedures (median 176 ng/g, range 116 – 553 ng/g, n = 19). Fecal corticoid concentrations decreased to pre-procedure levels within seven days. Fecal corticoid concentrations and variation during the 50 day migration period were similar to training levels in Wisconsin, except for a one day increase observed following a violent storm and escape from the temporary holding pen the preceding night (median 243 ng/g, range 228 – 280 ng/g, n = 7). There was an overall decline in fecal corticoid concentrations from the cranes during the migration (r = 0.42, p < 0.001). Acute stressors such as capture and restraint and severe storms were associated with stress responses by the cranes that varied in accordance with lasting physical or psychological stimuli. The overall process of costume-rearing, ultralight aircraft habituation, training and artificial migration was not associated with elevations in fecal corticoid concentrations suggestive of chronic stress.

New Locations And Range Extension Of Wintering Sandhill Cranes In Central Northern Mexico, Felipe Chavez-Ramirez

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The overall distribution of wintering sandhill cranes in Mexico has been reported and summarized in several prior documents. However, most reports are associated with counts or surveys primarily conducted for wintering waterfowl. Recent (1999- 2002) reports compiled from local researchers show, that wintering sandhill cranes are distributed much more widely in northern Mexico than is currently reported in the literature. The new locations reported here are primarily in the eastern portion of the Mexican Altiplano, in the states of Coahuila and Nuevo Leon, and in the southern portions of the Chihuahuan Desert Region in Zacatecas and San Luis Potosi. Most …

Evidence Of A Decline In Fat Storage By Midcontinental Sandhill Cranes In Nebraska During Spring: A Preliminary Assessment, Gary L. Krapua, David A. Brandt, Deborah A. Buhl, Gary W. Lingle

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

When an ice storm killed an estimated 2,000 sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) in the Central Platte River Valley (CPRV) in Nebraska on 24 March 1996, we retrieved the fresh carcasses of 118 adults to test for a decline in the condition of spring-staging cranes from that date in 1978 and 1979. We first conducted a principle component analysis on 3 morphological variables (tarsus, exposed culmen, and wing chord [flattened]) and used the first principal component (PC1) as an index of body size. Then, to account for variation in body mass due to size, we regressed body mass on …

Th E Conservation Reserve Program And Duck Product Ion In The U.S. Prairie Pothole Region, Ronald Reynolds

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

Th e Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North America has historically been considered the most important area of the continent for many species of waterfowl, particularly upland nesting ducks (Bellrose 1976). However, during the time since settlement of this area by Europeans, productivity by species such as mallard, gadwall, blue-winged teal, northern shoveler, and northern pintail has apparently declined. Beauchamp and others (1996) reported a system-wide decline in nest success of upland nesting duck species in the PPR between 1935 and 1992. Nest success has been identified as the single most important factor influencing population change of mallards breeding in …

Perennial Grasses - Are They For Me? Workshop Manual For Participants, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Wa, Grains Research And Development Corporation

Agriculture reports

This workshop is part of a series of workshops looking at dryland salinity and options to manage it. These ‘Million hectares’ workshops have the common themes of environmental improvement. They provide information to help participants identify the risks within the catchment and at a farm level, assess both the likelihood of the risk occurring and consequences if the risk is not managed and determine the best course of action for individuals. This perennial grass workshop builds on information and understanding developed from other Million hectares workshops. Participants will determine their course of action based on their specific circumstances and goals. …

Effect Of Increasing Dietary Crude Protein Concentration On Growth Performance And Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Concentration In Barrows And Gilts, Robert Fischer, Phillip S. Miller

Nebraska Swine Reports

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of increasing dietary protein intake on growth performance, carcass composition and serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentration in growing-finishing barrows and gilts. Seventy crossbred pigs (35 barrows and 35 gilts) with an initial body weight of 75.1 lb were used in a 26-day growth study. The pigs were allocated randomly to one of four dietary treatments. The diets were standard corn soybean meal diets, which were formulated to contain 10, 14, 18, or 22% crude protein by changing the ratio of corn to soybean meal in the diet. At the termination of …

Development Of A Ncr-42 Vitamin-Trace Mineral Mix, Laura R. Albrecht, Robert L. Fischer, Phillip S. Miller

Nebraska Swine Reports

A vitamin-trace mineral mix (NCR-42 VTMM) and a vitamin B-safety pak (biotin, choline, folacin, thiamin and vitamin B₆) were formulated as possible common sources of nutrients for cooperative projects for the NCR-42 (North Central Regional) committee on swine nutrition. The adequacy of the NCR-42 VTMM and the vitamin B-safety pak were evaluated in a four-week growth trial with weanling pigs. The pigs (weaned 18-23d) were fed one of six diets: 1) NC, negative control, a common nursery diet with vitamins at minimum levels (VTMM OX); 2) treatment 1, a common nursery diet with VTMM vitamins at 100% of …

Rapid Methods To Predict Lean Quality Attributes In Pork, Chris R. Calkins, Tony W. Holthaus, Roger C. Johnson, Kent M. Eskridge, Eric P. Berg

Nebraska Swine Reports

Meat quality has a significant impact on the value of pork. This research was conducted to determine if measures taken within the first 24 hours after harvest could be used to predict final meat quality in the domestic and export market. Measurements of loin pH, electrical impedance, and light reflectance were taken at the last rib 22 hours postmortem on 604 pigs in a commercial meat plant. One loin from each carcass was stored for 21 or 42 days to simulate domestic or export handling and shipping. At the conclusion of the storage time, pork color and loin purge were …

Teeth Clipping — Have You Tried To Quit?, Duane Reese, Barbara E. Straw

Nebraska Swine Reports

Results from several experiments were reviewed to collect information on the value of piglet “needle-teeth” clipping. The incidence of facial and udder lesions generally is increased when teeth are left intact. However, there is no evidence that these lesions affect piglet mortality or weaning weight. Thus, based on the conditions of these experiments, there is no strong justification for teeth clipping. Many producers have abandoned teeth clipping. Besides saving labor, they report having fewer poor doing piglets and joint infections that can result from teeth clipping. Some producers have tried to stop clipping, but because of greasy pig disease problems …

Shoulder Ulcers In Sows, Duane Reese, Barbara E. Straw, Jess M. Waddell

Nebraska Swine Reports

A literature review was conducted on shoulder ulcers in sows. Shoulder ulcers are caused by pressure that the shoulder blade exerts against tissues that overlie it. Those issues lose blood supply and die. Because the pressure is directed outward, tissue damage occurs before the ulcer is evident on the skin surface. Ulcer prevalence is highly variable; 0 to more than 20% of the sows in 218 herds evaluated had shoulder ulcers. Ulcers usually develop during late gestation and early lactation and many heal shortly after weaning. Numerous risk factors for developing shoulder ulcers have been identified. Inactivity and thin sow …

Patterns Of Habitat Use By Whooping Cranes During Migration: Summary From 1977–1999 Site Evaluation Data, Jane E. Austin, Amy L. Richert

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We used site evaluation data collected during 1977–1999 to examine patterns of habitat use by whooping cranes (Grus americana) during migration through the United States portion of the Wood Buffalo–Aransas flyway. We examined characteristics of 3 types of stopover habitats: 1) roost sites (n = 141 records), 2) feeding sites (n = 306), and 3) dual-use sites (i.e., where observer recorded cranes as using a site for both roosting and feeding (n = 248). Results in spring were influenced by the large number of records from Nebraska (> 67% of spring records) and in fall by frequent observations …

Philopatry And Dispersal In Whooping Cranes, Brian W. Johns, J. Paul Goossen, Ernie Kuyt, Lea Craig-Moore

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The natal and breeding dispersal of endangered whooping cranes (Grus americana) was investigated using information collected between 1978-2002 on the nesting grounds in and near Wood Buffalo National Park, Alberta-Northwest Territories. A minimum of 77% of the juveniles color-banded near their natal sites returned to the breeding grounds. Sex-biased natal dispersal was not observed. At least 76% of first-time breeders nested within 20 km of their natal site. Pioneering was rare and most cranes nested on the primary nesting areas adjacent to the Sass and Klewi rivers. The mechanism enhancing natal philopatry is probably related to learning the …

Techniques Employed To Capture Whooping Cranes In Central Florida, Martin J. Folk, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Stephen T. Schwikert, James A. Schmidt, Kathleen A. Sullivan, Thomas J. Miller, Stephen B. Baynes, Jeannette M. Parker

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

During the course of re-introduction of a non-migratory flock of whooping cranes to Florida (1993-2002) a variety of techniques were used to capture 105 free-living birds. The most commonly used technique was hand-capture from a feed trough blind (45 birds). Whooping cranes were also captured by use of snares, several types of nets, and by hand. All techniques were relatively safe and posed little risk to the birds, a primary concern when dealing with rare birds. We found it useful to employ a diversity of techniques because some methods work better than others under differing circumstances. Capturing whooping cranes for …

Head Stabilization In Whooping Cranes, Matthew R. Kinloch, Thomas W. Cronin, Glenn H. Olsen

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The whooping crane (Grus americana) is the tallest bird in North America, yet not much is known about its visual ecology. How these birds overcome their unusual height to identify, locate, track, and capture prey items is not well understood. There have been many studies on head and eye stabilization in large wading birds (herons and egrets), but the pattern of head movement and stabilization during foraging is unclear. Patterns of head movement and stabilization during walking were examined in whooping cranes at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Maryland USA. Four whooping cranes (1 male and 3 females) …

Animal Science Alumni Newsletter, Winter 2005

Department of Animal Science: Departmental News

Contents:

Jim Gosey Retires
From the Department Head’s Desk
Companion Animal Lecturer Position Filled
Japanese Agricultural Training Program (JATP) — 1968-2006
Gudmundsen Open House Includes Dedication — Donor Elaine Wolf and Family Honored
Dr. Mohammad Koohmaraie Named Director of Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center
Feedlot Expansion at Agricultural Research and Development Center
Forty-Four to Tyson Corporation Tour
Equine Science Option
Alumni Giving Information
Bud Britton Golf Classic
2006 Nebraska Cattlemen’s Ball
Officers and Advisors for 2005-2006
Kid’s Day
Annual Steak Fry
Ambassador Activities
Recent Department Awards and Recognitions
Livestock Judging 2005
Meats Judging
2nd Annual R.B. Warren …

Annual Review Of The World Pheasant Association 2004/2005, World Pheasant Association

Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Reports and Other Materials

Chairman of Trustees' report, Dick Potts

Treasurer's report and accounts, Ian Hoggarth

Conservation activities in 2004/2005, Philip J. K. McGowan

WPA around the world: Highlights from the chapters

Grouse Specialist Group report, Ilse Storch

Megapode Specialist Group report, Rene Dekker Darryl N. Jones, and Gillian C. Baker

Partridge, Quail and Francolin Specialist Group report, John P. Carroll

Pheasant Specialist Group report, Peter J. Garson

Species Survey 2004, Philip J. K. McGowan

Re-introduction of Green Peafowl into Peninsular Malaysia, Gary Robbins and John Corder

Ten years of WPA:s South Asian Field Office, Rahul Kaul

Range expansion of grey francolin in the …

Natural History And Conservation Biology Of A Southern West Virginia Contour Surface Mine Reptile And Amphibian Community, Zachary James Loughman

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

During the 2004-2005 field seasons, natural history of a herpetofaunal community was studied on an abandoned contour surface mine in Eccles, Raleigh County, West Virginia. This study is the first natural history investigation of amphibian and reptile populations present on an abandoned mine site. Specific natural history parameters for each order on the mine were investigated to determine what effect the post mining landscape had on herpetofaunal communities. Pond breeding caudates population success was dependent on life history parameters. Anurans were efficient at re-colonization, with 12 of a possible 14 species collected on the mine site. Anuran diversity was linked …

Corn Processing Co-Products Manual: A Review Of Current Research On Distillers Grains And Corn Gluten

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Table of Contents:

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
General Overview of Feeding Corn Milling Co-Products to Beef Cattle . . . . . . . . 3
Feeding Distillers Grains to Dairy Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . …

Evaluation Of Grazing Alternate Summer And Fall Forages In Extensive Beef Cattle Production Systems, D. H. Shain, T. J. Klopfenstein, R. A. Stock, B, A. Vieselmeyer, G. E. Erickson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Studies across 5 yr involving 938 British-breed crossbred cattle (372 heifers, 566 steers) were used to evaluate the effects of grazing alternate summer and fall forages on slaughter breakeven cost of various beef production systems. Grazed summer forage combinations included 1) continuous brome, 2)brome and warm-season grasses, 3) brome and alfalfa or sudangrass, 4) brome and a monoculture of red clover, 5) red clover seeded in brome, 6) brome and Native Sandhills range, or 7) Sandhills range only. Grazed fall forages included 1) brome, 2) brome and turnips, 3) brome and rye, or 4) brome and cornstalks. Following grazing, the …

The Natural History, Distribution, And Phenotypic Variation Of Cave-Dwelling Spring Salamanders, Gyrinophilus Spp. Cope (Plethodontidae), In West Virginia, Michael Steven Osbourn

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

There are over 4000 documented caves in West Virginia, potentially providing refuge and habitat for a diversity of amphibians and reptiles. Spring Salamanders, Gyrinophilus porphyriticus, are among the most frequently encountered amphibians in caves. Surveys of 25 caves provided expanded distribution records and insight into ecology and diet of G. porphyriticus. Over 500 species locality records were compiled in a nearly comprehensive list. The Gyrinophilus population from General Davis Cave is of particular interest. In 1977, Besharse and Holsinger first described the West Virginia Spring Salamander, G. subterraneus; however, its taxonomic status is unclear. In order to …

Descriptive Ecology Of A Turtle Assemblage In An Urban Landscape, Conner C. A, B A. Douthitt, Travis J. Ryan

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

We studied turtle populations inhabiting a canal and a lake (both man-made) within a heavily disturbed, urban setting. Six aquatic and semi-aquatic turtle species were collected in both habitats: spiny softshell turtle (Apolone spinifera), painted turtle (Chrysemys picta), common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), common map turtle (Graptemys geographica), common musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) and red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta). While G. geographica was the most common species in the canal habitat, T. scripta was most common in the lake habitat. We describe patterns of sexual size dimorphism and sex ratios for the three most abundant species (G. geographica, T. scripta and …

The Essentials On Estuarine Fish Habitat, Its Evaluation And Protection By Federal Fisheries Law, Eric T. Schultz, Michael Ludwig

EEB Articles

No abstract provided.

You Can Help Keep Western Australia Free Of Pest Animals, Marion Massam

Bulletins 4000 -

Quite apart from their economic and environmental impacts, the sheer nuisance value that certain pest animals can create for people - even in the shelter of our own backyards - is reason enough to want to keep them out of Western Australia.

Currently our State is free from numerous pest animals that, interstate or overseas, damage crops, spread exotic diseases, endanger the survival of native animals and disturb habitats.

You can help in maintaining this freedom, by being on the lookout for the animals featured on the following pages. As yet, they are either absent from Western Australia or confined …